This year's theme encourages teens to come and see the outstanding technology available at the library, from services such as online homework help to resources such as e-books, movies, music, audiobooks and databases.

Teens' use of technology increased dramatically in recent years, yet more teens are doing this from home instead of the library. The Pew Internet & American Life project found that 93 percent of teens go online, with many using social networking sites, finding news and information, sharing content they create, and looking for information on health. The Huntington City-Township Public library says, "Teens need to know that the library is a trusted resource for accessing information and that librarians are the experts who can help teens develop the skills they need to use electronic resources effectively and efficiently."

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative sponsoredby the Young Adult Library Services Association and is aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults, with the purpose to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technology.

Events include:

• Free Rice for the World Competition.

In celebration of Teen Tech Week, teens are invited to come to the library to compete against their friends and earn rice for charity by playing educational quizzes at freerice.com. Teen competitors may play up to 30 minutes per day, and will earn a small prize for playing their first quiz. A grand prize will be awarded to the teen with the highest total score at the end of the month. Open to ages 12 to 18, this contest will run from now until March 31 at both the main library and the Markle branch. Winners will be announced in early April.

• How Well Do You Know Your Tech?

From now until March 31, teens are invited to participate in the library's How Well Do You Know Your Tech? contest. To enter, teens may stop by either library location to pick up an entry form, then match each type of technology listed on the form to the decade in which it was invented. Prizes will be awarded for the entries with the most correct answers. Open to ages 12 to 18, this contest will run from now until March 31 at both the main library and the Markle branch. Winners will be announced in early April.

The main library is located at 255 W. Park Drive, Huntington, and can be contacted at 356-0824; the Markle library is located at 197 E. Morse St., Markle, and can be contacted at 758-3332.